How the Prime Minister outfoxed his foes: SIMON HEFFER analyses Cameron's key phrases, their meaning, and how they outwitted his opponents

What were David Cameron’s key phrases, what did they mean and how did they outfox his opponents? Here SIMON HEFFER delivers his verdict...

The PM SAID: ‘The challenges come not from within this continent but outside it. From the surging economies in the East and South’

ANALYSIS: Mr Cameron’s aim is to deny he’s under party political pressure and to argue there’s a universal belief that Europe is an overpriced cartel, living beyond its means, losing its clout and in need of radical reform. He’s trying to outfox Labour, the Lib Dems and the unelected European Commission – who are sticking their heads in the sand while Europe declines.

'We have the character of an island nation – independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty. We can no more change this British sensibility than we can drain the English Channel'

A rejection of any form of federal union and a call to stop further losses of sovereignty as well as reclaim some that is already gone. He’s daring Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to say the opposite, which would cost them public support, and aligning himself with former Tories who now back UKIP.

Making his point: David Cameron gives his historic speech yesterday on the UK's relationship with the EU

'I never want us to pull up the drawbridge and retreat from the world. I am not a British isolationist. I don’t just want a better deal for Britain. I want a better deal for Europe, too'

A rebuttal of accusations that he’s a Little Englander and advertising his and Britain’s willingness to engage with Europe. Also reveals his own wish to stay in a reformed EU – vital if he is to have any influence over European leaders.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

'First, the problems in the eurozone are driving fundamental change in Europe. Second, there is a crisis of competitiveness, as other nations across the world soar ahead. And third, there is a gap between the EU and its citizens which has grown dramatically. And which represents a lack of democratic accountability and consent that is felt acutely in Britain'

Arguing that the euro can’t work in its present form, that Europe’s social costs make it uncompetitive with emerging economic powers and saying the European Commission is anti-democratic.

'I want a relationship between Britain and the EU that keeps us in it'

By reaffirming his pro-Europeanism,
he’s challenging others to devise their own solutions and reassuring
those businesses which wish to remain in the EU. An admission that this
relationship might not be available, and Britain might therefore choose
to leave.

He’s pressing other EU states and the Commission to agree to a renegotiation.

'People are increasingly frustrated that decisions taken further and further away from them mean their living standards are slashed through enforced austerity or their taxes are used to bail out governments on the other side of the continent. We are starting to see this in the demonstrations on the streets of Athens, Madrid and Rome. We are seeing it in the parliaments of Berlin, Helsinki and The Hague'

Emphasising that the eurozone crisis, and the austerity measures it has prompted, have already caused widespread civil unrest.

'We must not be weighed down by an insistence on a one-size-fits-all approach which implies that all countries want the same level of integration. The fact is that they don’t and we shouldn’t assert that they do ... Countries are different. They make different choices. We cannot harmonise everything'

An attack on ‘ever closer union’. Saying that attempts to achieve it through the single currency have failed, and hinting they will always fail without a complete federal union with a centralised fiscal policy.

'It is national parliaments, which are, and will remain, the true source of real democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU'

Asserting there must be no further undermining of sovereignty, and challenging Labour and the Lib Dems to stand up for British voters.

'People feel the EU is now heading for a level of political integration far outside Britain’s comfort zone. They see treaty after treaty changing the balance between member states and the EU. And they were never given a say. They see what has happened to the euro. And they note that many of our political and business leaders urged Britain to join at the time'

Making it clear that public discontent with the EU has been fed by a sense of betrayal, because many politicians (such as the Lib Dems) and business leaders urged British membership of the euro, and the euro has now brought chaos and misery to much of Europe.

The speech, which has divided the coalition, also concealed a challenge to Nick Clegg to disagree with him on the issue of sovereignty

'Those who refuse to contemplate consulting the British people would in my view make more likely our eventual exit'

Arguing that public demand for a referendum is so strong that he has no choice but to call one – doing otherwise would enrage anti-European feelings even more and make a British exit more likely.

'A vote today between the status quo and leaving would be an entirely false choice. Now – while the EU is in flux, and when we don’t know what the future holds and what sort of EU will emerge from this crisis – is not the right time to make such a momentous decision about the future of our country'

Addressing calls from hardline Tory sceptics and UKIP for a referendum as quickly as possible. But also an admission that a vote now might be lost.

'It will be an in-out referendum'

An attempt to prove he has the guts (unlike Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg) to take this historic step.

'There is no doubt that we are more powerful in Washington, in Beijing, in Delhi because we are a powerful player in the European Union… It matters to our ability to get things done in the world'

A bid to soothe international businesses about Britain’s future, so they continue to invest here.

'If we can negotiate such an arrangement, I will campaign for it with all my heart and soul'

A rallying call to prove he’s not really a eurosceptic and try to win back Tories ready to vote UKIP.